How an Addiction to Crack Cocaine Develops

Crack cocaine is basically a solid, mineral-like illegal drug made by combining ammonia or baking soda into cocaine’s powder form, which when dried turns into rocks commonly known as crack cocaine. It’s usually inhaled through a glass pipe, although others use aluminum foil or soda cans for vaporizing it. It is also typically known as candy, rocks, base, kryptonite, cookies or sleet.

How Addictive is Crack Cocaine?

Crack is significantly more addictive and potent than pure cocaine. An addiction to it develops very quickly, with some individuals becoming addicted to it on their first try. Since the high they feel is extremely pleasurable, although short, they would want more and more of it to maintain their high. An addiction is eventually born, with the addict requiring the drug just to feel normal.

The addicted individual would then need more and more of crack cocaine to feel its euphoric effects and would experience severe withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop smoking crack. This occurs because the drug triggers the release of dopamine, a chemical that induces happiness, in your brain, and because of this, your brain’s natural ability to produce dopamine is diminished, explains a drug addiction recovery expert in Salt Lake City. And because those dependent on crack cocaine have immensely strong cravings and afraid of the severe withdrawal symptoms, they ignore the negative effects of their drug use and just keep on smoking crack.

Why Do People Turn to Crack Cocaine?

Crack cocaine is actually rarely abused by newbie drug users since oftentimes, it is abused by individuals who are already abusing cocaine. Likewise, crack is substantially cheaper than pure cocaine, which is called the “rich man’s drug”, which makes it very accessible to people of all types, particularly those in vulnerable states.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine, know that much like how the brain could rewire into thinking that it needs crack cocaine to feel pleasure, it could likewise be rewired to its healthy, original state via proper treatment.